Egypt is extending its rolling power blackouts due to a combination of factors: a scorching heatwave, dwindling natural gas supplies, and increased electricity demand.
On Tuesday, temperatures in Cairo soared to nearly 40°C (104°F), prompting authorities to extend planned outages by an additional hour.
This temporary measure aims to safeguard the national electricity grid and prevent infrastructure overload.
The country faces a dual challenge: rising electricity consumption fueled by the growing population and a shrinking supply of natural gas, a key source of power generation.
For years, the government has heavily subsidized energy costs, leading to inefficiencies and higher demand.
Last summer, the state-owned power company began implementing rolling blackouts, initially for one hour a day.
This year, the outages have increased to two hours daily.
The situation is further strained by a shortage of foreign currency, hindering gas imports.
These energy challenges come as Egypt strives to reduce government spending on subsidies.
In March, the country secured an $8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, prompting a series of price increases on various fuels, including a quadrupling of subsidized bread prices in early June.
The extended power cuts pose a significant hardship for Egyptians, particularly during the sweltering summer months.
The government faces the difficult task of balancing energy security with economic reforms and finding long-term solutions to address the natural gas shortage and rising energy demand.
